Finally, my office in the consulting vehicle: fully functional, with all the bells and whistles!
Today, I am going to treat myself to a proper bit of bragging. I think I am allowed to. Because many people talk about mobile working and then sit at the table in the motorhome in the so-called dinette.
Of course, there are huge motorhomes that require an HGV license. But I would venture to claim that I am the only one who has a fully functional office with a standing desk in a total length of 7.6 m.
Since I live in the consulting vehicle, I simply want to have two areas. Eating and working should be separate and leave no excuses that you cannot work here—just like in any other office.
And if we want to work as a pair, I simply close my large sliding door and one person sits at the front in the dinette and one at the back in the office.
Simply perfect! What do you think?
By the way, as far as space is concerned: there are 4 seats in the back and even 5 in the front.
Of course, I put a lot of thought into how everything should be equipped and then put together the following:
The equipment includes, among other things:
- Standing desk (with a closable paper flap for the printer)
- Inkjet printer installed under the desk
- A4 duplex scanner
- 3 cameras (laptop, on the monitor, and mobile on a tripod)
- 2-in-1 notebook as a monitor with ergonomic keyboard and mouse
- 32″ monitor on the wall
- Paper shredder
- 2 seating cubes that hold all documents, paper, and folders
- Bluetooth speaker
- Microphone for podcasts, interviews, etc.
- Mobile Wi-Fi incl. external antenna for better reception
- 2 small USB battery-powered fans in case it gets too hot after all
and something very special: my sofa for my interview series starting soon, “On the Couch with the Digitalization Consultant”
More on that in one of the next posts.
Welcome to my mobile office
Things are casual here today.
Please take a seat for the interview!
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As self-sufficient as possible—and environmentally friendly, too!
The working climate has to be right. Not just in terms of people. That is why I initially absolutely wanted air conditioning. Nice and cool, even in the hot summer. And as a possible additional heater in winter, too. (But I will do that differently—still a secret!) But then I thought about the enormous energy consumption. And at today’s prices? Maybe not the best idea after all.
That is why I now have 2 solar panels, a 480 Ah battery, and a large roof fan instead.
This decision was the right one for me. Because instead of air conditioning, there is a very good fan in the middle of the consulting vehicle. With the large windows in the office and the door open, you can create very good air circulation.
You do not need air conditioning at all and you save a lot of electricity in the process. At 30°C in blazing sunshine, I have managed quite well so far.
The solar panels in combination with the large leisure battery mean that I can spend several days without a power connection. On a fully sunny day, I actually generate at least as much electricity as I consume. I think that is great!
The view from my “cockpit”
Environmentally friendly, even for other “business”
… with the toilet! Surely one person or another is wondering why this topic is a topic here.
Yes, this is also a very important topic, because anyone working here will, after all, have to take care of other “business” from time to time. It should be environmentally friendly, too.
Anyone who, like me, does not want to empty chemical waste at the designated disposal points needs something else.
A dry separation toilet. I opted to convert the existing toilet (insanely expensive!) and that comes with several advantages:
- Completely self-sufficient, as it does not depend on disposing of chemical waste (e.g., when I am parked at a customer’s site)
- Easy disposal (one part can go into any toilet and the other into household waste)
- No unpleasant smell in the heat
So far, I am completely satisfied and I am also doing something good for the environment.
Pretty clever, isn’t it.
My external antenna. Let’s see how well it works.
(for now, the much cheaper alternative to a roof antenna for €1,000.–)
Conclusion
From an office perspective, I am perfectly equipped here. Now I can truly work anywhere my four wheels take me. I am especially looking forward to the first customer engagements in the consulting vehicle. And from what I have heard, my customers are, too.
And finally, a thank-you to….
Franz, who sawed the paper opening into the new tabletop with me, and Stephan, who drilled and deburred the four holes for the screws in the table frame with his drill press.
